BV 

loung Men 
and Prayer 

Thomas C. Richards 



Class J!L\Zl2J_a 
Book O 

COPlfRICHT DEPOSIR 



Young Men and 
Prayer 



YOUNG MEN AND 
PRAYER 

BY 

THOMAS C. RICHARDS 




THE PILGRIM PRESS 
BOSTON CHICAGO 



Copyright 1918 
By frank M. SHELDON 



OCT i8 jSI8 



THE PILGRIM PRESS 
BOSTON 



©aA503952 



COXTENTS 



I 

Steong Mex and Prayer 3 
II 

Why IMen Pray 27 



III 

Prayers of the Young Man 41 



SECTIOX I 



STRONG MEX AXD 
PRAYER 



STRONGER MEN 

O do not pray for easy lives. 
Pray to be stronger men. Do not 
pray for tasks equal to your 
powers. Pray for powers equal 
to your tasks. Then the doing of 
your work shall be no miracle. 
But you shall be a miracle. Every 
day you shall wonder at yourself, 
at the richness of life which has 
come to you by the grace of God. 

—Phillips Brooks. 



Young Men and Prayer 



A YOUNG MAN'S PRAYER 

I would be true, for there are those 
who trust me; 
I would be pure, for there are 
those who care ; 
I would be strong, for there is 
much to suffer; 
I would be brave, for there is 
much to dare. 

I would be friend of all — the foe — 
the friendless; 
I would be giving and forget the 
gift; 

I would be humble, for I know my 
weakness ; 
I would look up — and laugh — 
and love — and lift. 
— Howard Arnold Walter, 
in Harper's Bazar. 



4 Young Men and Prayer 



A SOLDIER PRAYS 

''In civil life he had always said 
his prayers and they had done him 
good too, in a way. When he first 
came into the army he kept up the 
habit deliberately and very self- 
consciously at first, expecting to 
be laughed at, but in a verj^ little 
while they took no notice. He 
was not persecuted because he 
prayed and being ignored he gave 
it up, not all at once. He prayed 
after he went to bed, but then 
one day he forgot." This is what 
Donald Hankey tells us in "The 
Student in Arms," a verv human 
document, in the chapter, ''An 
Englishman Prays." 

"When he reached 'somewhere 
in France' he was not quite sure 



Strong Men and Prayer 5 

of himself, and he prayed, half 
ashamed in the face of difficulties. 
He was not quite sure of himself, 
and he prayed that he might not 
be found wanting, but prayer had 
lost its meaning to him largely. 

"A third stage came when he 
went over the top and a whiz- 
bang caught him in his leg and 
arm and he lay still between the 
lines, and his thoughts were long, 
long thoughts, and then came 
oblivion for a time. It was mid- 
day when he was wounded, but 
he woke to see the stars and 
the moon above him. All he 
could do was think. He was 
truly cut off from his fellowmen, 
and as he looked up at the stars 
there was no sjmipathy there. 
Broken and bleeding though he 
was, he was of finer stuff than 



6 Young Men and Prayer 

they. He could suffer and he 
could understand his own little- 
ness. There was something in 
him not in them. 'God/ he 
whispered softly. 'God every- 
where.' Then like a tired child 
who has found its mother he kept 
repeating as a kind of a chant, 
'Underneath are the Everlasting 
Arms.' They brought him in 
at last. He will never be able to 
go to the trenches again, but he 
is learning a new way of prayer." 



A SOLDIER'S TRIBUTE 
TO PRAYER 

''I have found in every trying 
circumstance that praying is a 
wonderful comfort. I do not 
know how a man can go through 



Strong Men and Prayer 7 



it who has not a belief in God to 
fall back on. 

''Your letters help me very 
much, with the knowledge of your 
prayer and what you say about 
God's Presence. 

''A man fully realizes his own 
physical futihty in the face of 
modern warfare. There is noth- 
ing then to fall back on but his 
will-power, and I know that mine 
is worthless excepting I have the 
spiritual help which comes from 
my belief in God. Your words 
all help and strengthen that, so 
you are and will be a great help 
to me in the future," — Letters of 
''A Gentleman Unafraidf' pub- 
lished in Atlantic Monthly, April, 
1918. 



8 Young Men and Prayer 

GREAT SOLDIERS AT 
PRAYER 

A Congressman who came back 
from the front says that the 
American soldier whose plans and 
campaigns are studied with the 
greatest zest and admiration on 
the other side is Stonewall Jack- 
son. No American soldier was 
more intensely religious than he. 
His religion entered into every 
action of his life. His biographer 
says, ''No duty, however tri^dal, 
was begun without asking a bless- 
ing or ended without returning 
thanks. He had long cultivated 
the habit of connecting the most 
trivial and customary acts of life 
with silent prayer." 

An American statesman says 
that the most sublime figure in 



Strong Men and Prayer 9 

American history is Washington 
on his knees at Valley Forge, 
where he personified the American 
people not depending on their 
own com^age or power but look- 
ing to God for strength. 

The Anglo-Saxon soldier who 
most of all deserves the title, the 
bravest of the brave, is Charles 
George Gordon, better known as 
Chinese Gordon. Every morning 
during his campaign there was 
placed outside his tent a white 
handkerchief, and the whole camp 
knew what it meant, black man 
and white man and yellow, Hindu, 
Moslem and Christian respected 
that flag, not of truce, but of 
prayer. For a half an hour in the 
busiest campaigns he would be 
alone with his God and pray with 
an earnestness and an abandon 



10 Young Men and Prayer 

that few men have achieved. That 
white handkerchief was the secret 
of his strength, of his unfaltering 
courage and unselfish life. Glad- 
stone summed it up as he said, ''He 
was a man who lived in close com- 
munion with his God." 

THE WARRIOR'S 
PRAYER 

Long since, in sore distress, I 
heard one pray, 
''Lord, who prevailest with re- 
sistless might. 
Ever from war and strife keep me 
away. 
My battles fight!'' 

I know not if I play the Pharisee, 
And if my brother after all be 
right ; 



Strong Men and Prayer 11 

But mine shall be the warrior's 
plea to thee — 
Strength for the fight! 

I do not ask that thou shalt front 

the fray, 
And drive the warring foeman 

from my sight; 
I only ask; O Lord, by night, by 

day, 

Strength for the fight! 

When foes upon me press, let me 
not quail 
Nor think to turn me into cow- 
ard flight. 
I only ask, to make mine arms 
prevail. 
Strength for the fight! 

Still let mine eyes look ever on 
the foe, 



12 Young Men and Prayer 



Still let mine armor ease me 

strong and bright; 
And grant me, as I deal each 

righteous blow, 
Strength for the fight ! 

And when, at eventide, the fray 
is done, 

My soul to Death's bedchamber 
do thou light. 
And give me, be the field or lost 
or won. 
Rest from the fight! 

— Paul Laurence Dunhar. 

(Used by permissiom of Dodd, Mead 6* Company, Publishers.) 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN AT 
PRAYER 

Abraham Lincoln learned to 
pray where most men learn to 
pray, at his mother's knees. Long 
after her death, speaking of his 



Strong Men and Prayer 13 

mother, he said, ''I remember her 
prayers, and they have always 
followed me, and they've clung to 
me all my life." 

On that rainy February after- 
noon when he left his home in 
Springfield with a task greater 
than that which rested upon 
Washington, he said to his neigh- 
bors, ''Without the assistance of 
that Divine Being who ever at- 
tended him I cannot succeed, with 
that assistance I cannot fail. 
Trusting in Him who can go with 
me and remain with you and be 
everj^here for good, let us confi- 
dently hope that all will yet be 
well. To His care commending 
you, as I hope in yoUr prayers 
you will commend me, I bid you 
an affectionate farewell." 

His wife said that after he had 



14 Young Men and Prayer 

carefully read his First Inaugural 
Address to his family he went off 
by himself and spent a long time 
in prayer. 

Lincoln himself told General 
Sickles just before the Battle 
of Gettysburg, when everybody 
seemed panic-stricken, ''I went to 
my room one day. I locked the 
door and got down on my knees 
before Almighty God and prayed 
to Him that this was His war, 
our cause was His cause, but we 
could not stand another Fred- 
ericksburg or Chancellorsville. I 
then and there made a solemn 
vow to Almighty God that, if He 
would stand by our boys at 
Gettysburg, I would stand by 
Him." Not only did he pray 
himself continually and ask the 
prayers of others for himself and 



Strong Men and Prayer 15 

the cause, but he made this re- 
quest, that ''prayer be made for 
divine protection to our soldiers 
and their leaders in the field who 
have so often and so gallantly 
perilled their lives in battling with 
the enemy and for blessings and 
comforts from the Father of 
Mercies to the sick, wounded 
and prisoners and the orphans and 
widows of those who have fallen 
in the service of their country." 

He confessed that in all the 
great emergencies in the White 
House he had prayed. ''I have 
been driven many times upon my 
knees by the overwhelming con- 
viction that I had nobody else to 
go to. My own wisdom and that 
of all about me seemed insufficient 
for that day." 



16 Young Men and Prayer 



WHEN THE AIR MEN 
PRAYED 

In 1910 Hawley and Post made 
their record-breaking voyage in 
the dirigible air craft Ameiica. 
They landed in northern Canada 
far from any human habitation 
and had a most thrilhng ex- 
perience in reaching civihzation. 
After they landed Post said, 
''The air seemed charged with 
our safety. Two governments 
were doing everything within their 
power to reach out for us. . . . 
Hawley had a little prayer, tender 
and touching, which had been 
given him before starting, to be 
opened in the balloon, and now 
it gave forth its message in the 
hour of our greatest discourage- 



Strong Men and Prayer 17 

merit. But in reality our e very- 
thought was a prayer, for each of 
us reahzed without mentioning 
this fear to each other that our 
lives might be drawing to a close." 

WHEN PEARY PRAYED 

When Admiral Peary (then 
Commander) began his last drive 
for the North Pole after his 
many heroic, though unsuccessful, 
attempts, he opened his heart 
toward the Supreme Intelligence 
for wisdom and guidance in his 
great quest. Here are his own 
words given after he came back. 

"It has been said that well- 
directed labor toward a given end 
is the best kind of prayer for its 
attainment. But no man can live 



18 Young Men and Prayer 



for years surrounded by the great 
white mvstery of the Arctic T^dth- 
out feeling that witliin and beliind 
it is an Intelligence — watchful 
and responsive. And if, standing 
there A\'ith my back to the world 
and my face toward that myster\% 
I dared to ask of It the boon for 
which I had labored so long, can 
any one wonder that I did so?" 



WHEX HEXRY M. STAX- 
LEY PRAYED 

When Henrv ^I. Stanley, the 
great explorer who found Living- 
stone, came back from the Emin 
Pasha Relief Expedition in 1890, 
after the most tlirilling and try- 
ing experience in his wonderful 
career, he WTote to Sir William 



Strong Men and Prayer 19 

McKinnon the following confes- 
sion: ''Constrained at the darkest 
hour to humbly confess that with- 
out God's help I was helpless, I 
vowed a vow in the forest soli- 
tudes that I would confess his 
aid before men. Silence as of 
death was round about me; it was 
midnight; I was weakened by ill- 
ness, prostrated by fatigue and 
wan with anxiety for my white 
and black companions, whose fate 
was a mystery. In this physical 
and mental distress I besought 
God to give me back my people. 
Xine hours later we were exult- 
ing in rapturous joy. In full 
view of all was the crimson flag 
with its crescent and beneath its 
wa\^ng folds was the long-lost 
rear column. . . . All the armies 
of Europe could not have lent us 



20 Young Men and Prayer 



aid in our dire extremity — an 
arniy of explorers could not have 
traced us had we fallen, for deep, 
deep as utter oblivion had we been 
surely buried under the humus of 
the trackless wilds." 

Later on he gave this further 
personal testimony after his long 
life as an explorer: ''Prayer made 
me stronger mentally and moralty 
than any of my non-prajang 
companions. It did not blind my 
eyes or dull my mind or close my 
ears, but on the contraiy it gave 
me confidence. It did more. It 
lifted me hopefully over fifteen 
hundred miles of forest treks 
eager to face the day's perils and 
fatigues." 



Strong Men and Prayer 21 



CHARLES DICKEXS' 
ADVICE 
TO HIS BOY 
WHEX LEAVING HOME 

Charles Dickens' youngest boy, 
Edward Bulwer L5i;ton Dickens, 
was bom in 1852. When he was 
sixteen years old he left home and 
went to Australia. His father 
wrote him a letter of comradeship 
and advice, part of which is worth 
passing on to every boy leaving 
home. 

''I put a New Testament 
among your books for the very 
same reasons and with the 
very same hopes, that made me 
write an easy account of it for 
you, when you were a little child. 
Because it is the best book that 



22 Young Men and Prayer 



ever was, or will be, known in 
the world; and because it teaches 
you the best lessons by which 
any human creature, who tries to 
be truthful and faithful to duty, 
can possibly be guided. As your 
brothers have gone away, one by 
one, I have written to each such 
words as I am now writing to 
you, and have entreated them all 
to guide themselves by tliis Book, 
putting aside the interpretations 
and inventions of man. You will 
remember that you have never at 
home been harassed about relig- 
ious obsen^ances, or mere formah- 
ties. I have always been anxious 
not to wear\^ my children with 
such things, before they are did 
enough to form opinions respect- 
ing them. You will therefore un- 
derstand the better that I now 



Strong Men and Prayer 23 

most solemnly impress upon you 
the truth and beauty of the Chris- 
tian Religion, as it came from 
Christ Himself, and the impossi- 
bility of your going far wrong if 
you humbly but heartily respect 
it. Only one thing more on this 
head. The more we are in earnest 
as to feeling it, the less we are 
disposed to hold forth about it. 
Never abandon the wholesome 
practice of saying your own pri- 
vate prayers, night and morning. 
I have never abandoned it myself, 
and I know the comfort of it." 



SECTION II 
WHY MEX PRAY 



i 



WHY MEX PRAY 



Prayer is one of the natui'al 
impulses of the heart and one of 
the common instincts of humanity. 
It is not the exclusive property 
of any rehgion. Prayer has a 
place in all the religions of man- 
kind. It comes out of human 
longings and human needs. It is 
not something that has been de- 
vised and put over on the human 
race by church or priests or 
religions. 

Nearly all men pray at some 
time in their Hves. In times of 
danger, in times of sorrow, in 
times of crisis men who seldom 
pray have opened their hearts, if 
they have not lifted up their 
voices to God. How much better 



28 Young Men and Prayer 

for such people, if prayer were 
not simply a last resort, but a life 
habit. 

Harry E. Fosdick has com- 
pared these two methods in a 
parable that is worth repeating. 
''Consider a new parable of a 
father and his two sons. One son 
looked upon his father as a last 
resort in critical need. He never 
came to him for friendly confer- 
ence, never sought his advice, in 
little difficulties never was com- 
forted by his help. He did not 
make his father his confidant. 
He went to college and wrote 
home onlv When he wanted monev. 
He fell into disgrace, and called 
on his father only when he needed 
legal aid. He ran his life with 
utter disregard of his father's 
character or purpose, and tm-ned 



Why Men Pray 29 



to him only when in desperate 
straits. The other son saw in his 
father's love the supreme motive 
of his life. He was moved by 
daily gratitude so that to be well- 
pleasing to his father was his joy 
and his ideal. His father was his 
friend. He confided in him, was 
advised by him, kept close to him, 
and in his crises came to his 
father with a naturalness born of 
long habit, like Jesus, who having 
prayed without ceasing, now at 
last bows in Gethsemane. Is there 
any doubt as to which is the nobler 
son? And is not the former type 
a true picture of our relationship 
with God when we leave prayer 
to be a merely instinctive and un- 
trained cry of need?'' 



30 Young Men and Prayer 



WHAT PRAYER IS 

Prayer is not a lazy man's de- 
vice to dispense with work. It is 
no use to pray, "Give us this day 
our daily bread," unless we reen- 
force it with our very best efforts. 
God never does things for us that 
we can do ourselves. 

Prayer is not all petition; it is 
talking over with Our Father the 
things of greatest importance and 
nearest to our hearts. 

Prayer is not saying our pray- 
ers or using words. 

"Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, 
Uttered or unexpressed, 
The motion of a hidden fire, 
That trembles in the breast." 



Why Men Pray 31 



Our true prayers are the things 
we want most of all. 

The highest form of prayer is 
not an attempt to persuade God 
to see things and do things om' 
way. 

''Prayer is a fighting for power 
to see and courage to do the will 
of God." 



32 Young Men and Prayer 

JESUS AS A MAN OF 
PRAYER 

Not only did Jesus teach his 
disciples to pray and much of his 
teaching has to do with prayer, 
but we find prayer as a habit of 
his own life. 

When tired and weary he went 
into the mountains alone to pray. 
He recovered strength and vigor 
in these seasons of prayer. Occa- 
sionally he took with him sev- 
eral of his disciples, as at Geth- 
semane, for a season of prayer, 

Jesus always prayed before 
taking any important step in his 
life. He prayed at the beginning 
of his ministry, at the time of his 
temptation; when he was about 
to choose the Twelve Apostles 



Why Men Pray 33 



''He went up into the mountain 
and continued all night in prayer 
to God." He was praying at the 
time of the Transfiguration. The 
greatest scene of prayer in all his 
life w^as undoubtedly in Geth- 
semane, when he reached the 
climax of all praver: ''Xeverthe- 
less not my will, but Thine be 
done." His last words on the 
cross were words of prayer: 
''Father, into Thy hands I com- 
mend my spirit." 

If Jesus needed to pray, how 
much more do we need to pray! 
If he found strength and power 
and comfort in prayer, so may we. 



34 Young Men and Prayer 



CAN GOD ANSWER 
PRAYER? 

Because God is our Father he 
does not grant all our requests. 
A little child creeping on the floor 
sees the blazing fire in the grate 
and cries, ''Pretty, pretty," and 
wants to play with the fire; but 
the mother does not grant the 
child's request. Far from it; she 
teaches him it will burn and hurt, 
and perhaps gives him a bright 
ball to distract his attention. The 
little toddling boy begs for his 
father's razor, but does the father 
give the child this means of great 
harm to the little boy? No, be- 
cause he loves him and know^s bet- 
ter. So we ask for things in our 
childish ignorance just as harmful, 



I 



Why Men Pray 35 



and because our Father loves us 
he does not grant our prayers. 

He gives us our needs rather 
than our wants He gives many 
times better things than we ask 
for. 

Our prayers are unanswered 
sometimes because we ourselves 
ought to work out the answers 
by our o^vn brain and brawn. 
Oftentimes it is our own fault, 
because we are not ready to re- 
ceive the good things that our 
Father has for us, and yet again 
we are impatient with God and 
do not bide and wait his time. 
Most often our prayers are not 
answered because we do not un- 
derstand what prayer is and do 
not know how to pray. We need 
to make our chief pi^ayer, ''Lord, 
teach us how to pray." 



36 Young Men and Prayer 



A Confederate soldier \\Tote 
out of his own experience the fol- 
lo%\^ng : 

''He asked for strength that he 
might achieve; he was made weak 
that he might obey. 

''He asked for health that he 
might do greater things; he was 
given infirmity that he might do 
better things. 

"He asked for riches that he 
might be happy; he was given 
poverty that he might be wise. 

"He asked for power that he 
might have the praise of men; he 
was given weakness that he might 
feel the need of God. 

"He asked for all things that he 
might enjoy life; he was given 
Life that he might enjoy all 
tilings. 



Why Men Pray 37 



"He has received nothing that 
he asked for; all that he hoped for. 
His prayer is answered. 

"He is most blessed." 



SECTION III 



PRAYERS OF THE 
YOUNG MAN 



A PRAYER FOR THE 
XEW YEAR 



O God, Giver of life and time, 
another year has passed from 
time into hfe. We give freely 
and gladly into thy hands. Only 
from the past year may we learn 
to make this next year better. 
Help us to seek earnestly the 
best things. ]May we strive for 
the highest, not the easiest. May 
we put our best into om* work, 
not for the reward we get but for 
thy sake and the world's sake. 
This year we would seek not 
glory but service. IMay we not 
be jealous of others' success. May 
we be friendly in our rivalry, 
honest in our sport, clean in our 
life and brotherly in all our meet- 



42 Young Men and Prayer 

ing together. May we be loyal to 
our countrj", worthy of our family, 
helpful in our church and in oui' 
community. Keep us all through 
the year true to our principles, 
true to our friends, true to our- 
selves and true to thee. In the 
name of him who is the Life, the 
Truth and the Way. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 43 



FOR THE NEW SCHOOL 
YEAR 

Heavenly Father, for the time 
of beginning again we thank thee. 
That we can leave the mistakes, 
the failures and the weaknesses 
of other years, we rejoice. Help 
us, O Father, not to trj to live on 
past achievements or to pride our- 
selves on laurels abeady won. 
Rather may the days that have 
gone be an incentive for us to do 
"our utmost for the highest" in 
the days that come. 

May we do our best not only 
for our own sakes and our ovm 
honor, but for the sake of om* 
family, for the good of the school, 
for the welfare of all boys, for the 
better equipment of our lives for 



44 Young Men and Prayer 

service, and for the honor of thy 
name. 

In all our contests in the school- 
room, in debates, or in athletics 
may we play fair, deal honorably 
and work hard, and whether we 
win or lose may we play the man. 

With our comrades may we be 
helpful, with our friends loyal, 
with our enemies forgiving, with 
our teachers courteous and with 
everybody friendly. 

For the new year of school give 
us more faith in the right, a 
broader vision of what an educa- 
tion means, greater courage to 
live up to our convictions and 
more loyalty to the truth, to our 
own best selves and to thee. 

Above all, may we learn to live 
from the Great Teacher of life, 
who said, ''Learn of me; I will 



Prayers of the Young Man 45 

make you meek and lowly ot heart 
and ye shall find rest unto your 
souls." In his name. Amen. 



46 Young Men and Prayer 



ON SUNDAY 

Our Father and our God, we 
thank thee for this day of rest, 
this break in the work of the 
week. May we put this day to 
its best use. May we get rest 
and refreshment so that we may 
go to our work this week with 
new strength and vigor. As we 
go to thy house, may we get finer 
ideals of manhness, broader views 
of the truth, stronger faith in 
God and righteousness, more 
courage to fight temptations and 
sin, and a new sense of service. 
May our worship this day be of 
the life as well as of the lips, 
from the heart and from the soul. 
Today may we find some ways to 
help another — to lend a hand to 



Prayers of the Young Man 47 

a fellow who needs; to strengthen 
some fellow who is tempted, to 
cheer the discouraged or to com- 
fort some one who is lonely. 

In His name who went about 
doing good. Amen. 



48 Young Men and Prayer 



FOR THE MOEXIXG 

We thank thee, Father, for the 
new day with all its new opportu- 
nities and the duties which it 
brings. jNIay we face the new 
day with courage and cheer. jNIay 
we take up its tasks with en- 
thusiasm and energy. We pray 
not for an easy life but for 
strength for the day's duties, 
for wisdom to make the right 
choices and for confidence and 
faith to meet the miexpected. 
]May we watch as well as pray 
against temptations. ]May we 
overcome obstacles and defeat 
difficulties. Xot for om'selves 
alone we pray, but for om- com- 
rades and friends, that they too 
may do their best and be theii' 



Prayers of the Young Man 49 

best. If we have any enemies, 
remove their hatred and our harsh 
feehngs. IMay we this day and 
every day lend our hands, our 
heads and our hearts 

'Tor the cause that lacks assis- 
tance, 

'Gainst the wrongs that need re- 
sistance 

And the good that we can do." 

In the name of our great Helper 
and Friend. Amen, 



50 Young Men and Prayer 

FOR EVENING 

Our Father, another day is 
done! With all its victories and 
defeats, with all its work and play, 
with all its joy and sorrow, we 
bring it to thee. Forgive its fail- 
ures and mistakes. Accept what- 
ever good has been accomplished 
as our evening offering. Help us 
to forgive all who have injured us 
or abused us this day. Cleanse 
our hearts from evil thoughts and 
hard feelings. Grant us peace of 
mind and a clean conscience, so 
that we may have sleep and 
rest and rise refreshed to do thy 
work and our work with credit to 
ourselves and honor to thee. To 
thy care and keeping we commend 
ourselves and those whom we love. 

In the JNIaster's name. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 51 



WHEX HE IS LEAVING 
HOME 

Heavenly Father, I thank thee 
for the home of my boyhood, for 
my Christian training and the 
example of my father and mother. 
For the open door of larger op- 
portunity which is now before me, 
I am thankful. May I be worthy 
in the days that come, of all that 
has been given me in the days 
that have gone. Help me to over- 
come temptations and to choose 
the right kind of comrades. May 
I do my work well, so as to honor 
thee and be ready for larger ser- 
vice. Whatever the discourage- 
ments and difficulties, may I not 
lose heart. Whatever the disap- 
pointments and disenchantments 



52 Young Men and Prayer 

in the men and women I meet, 
may I never lose faith. 

In all my search after success 
and promotion, help me never to 
forget the other fellow who needs 
my friendship and a helping hand. 

Above all, let me ''live pure, 
speak true, right wrong and fol- 
low the King." 

In the name of the young man's 
Jesus. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 53 

FIRST NIGHT AWAY 
FROM HOME 

O God, I thank thee that thou 
art ever near — that wherever I 
go I can go with thee. When 
I leave behind home and friends 
and all that is dearest — still thou 
art with me. With thee I can talk 
as to an intimate Friend and a 
great Adviser. Thou art not far 
away but very near. Help me to- 
night to feel thee near. May I do 
nothing when I am away from 
home that I should be ashamed to 
do there. May I be true to the 
teachings of that home. Give me 
success, if it be possible, that will 
please and honor my people, but 
keep me true and clean so that I 
may honor them and thee. Help 
me to overcome temptations and 

1 ■ 



54 Young Men and Prayer 



may I be watchful to help and 
strengthen other lives. 

In the name of the Young Man 
who, though he had not where to 
lay his head, was always loyal to 
his Father. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 55 



WHEN UNITING WITH 
THE CHURCH 

O God, as I come into thy 
Church, I would dedicate my life 
freely and fully to thy service. 
I would leave behind the past 
with its sins and its mistakes. I 
would take a new start in life. 
May my life bear witness for 
thee. Give me greater reverence 
for thee, and greater sympathy for 
others. May I be a disciple of 
Jesus, learning what he has to 
teach, a follower of Jesus, tread- 
ing in his footsteps, a believer in 
Jesus, trusting my life fully to 
him, and a worker striving to do 
Christ's work in Christ's way. 
May I not only seek help in the 
Church for living the Christian 



56 Young Men and Prayer 



life, but may I desire earnestly to 
give my best to the Master's ser- 
vice. Help me to be willing to 
support my own church by at- 
tendance, by gifts, with my time 
and my talents, as much as in me 
lieth. May my motto and en- 
deavor be, 'Tor Christ and the 
Church." 

In the name of him who is the 
great Head of the Church. Amen. 



Prayers 0/ the Young Man 57 

ON HIS BIRTHDAY 

For another year of life I give 
thee thanks, O Father. For the 
health and strength and for 
the growing power of manhood, 
I am glad. Forgive the mistakes 
and failm^es of the weeks that 
have gone. So many things have 
been left undone or have been 
poorly done. For the year that 
is before me I am glad and hope- 
ful. JNIay it be a year of growth 
in heart and life as well as body. 
May I be better fitted for the 
work of life. Help me to decide 
the questions of life work rightly. 
Show me what I ought to do. 
Save me from meanness and 
selfishness of ambition. Open my 
eyes to the great opportunities. 



li 



58 Young Men and Prayer 

May I see things in the large. 
Help me to keep my mind open 
to the truth, my heart open to 
others' need, and my life open to 
thee. May this be life's best yea;r 
as I start anew today. May I 
remember Jesus Christ all the 
days. 

In his name. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 59 



FOR VACATION TIME 

For the days of rest and recrea- 
tion, I thank thee. 

For the opportunity to get fit 
for large service, I am glad. 

For the period of play, I give 
thanks with my vi^hole heart. 

May I use this playtime and 
rest period for the very best pur- 
poses. Forbid that I should in- 
dulge in any play or amusement 
that shall degrade my manhood 
or that shall injure any one else. 

While I am off duty from 
work, may I never forget my 
honor and my responsibihty to 
thee. Save me from mere selfish- 
ness in my recreation. May I 
find happiness by helping the 
other fellow to have a good time. 



60 Young Men and Prayer 

When I am away from home, 
may I still feel its influence. 
Help me to show my allegiance 
to thee, thy cause, the Church and 
my Christian training wherever I 
may go. ]May my eyes and heart 
be open to the best. May I re- 
turn refreshed and strengthened 
for another year, with higher 
ideals and strength to live them. 

In his name who said. Come 
unto me and rest. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 61 



WHEX HE IS SUCCESS- 
FUL 

Help me, O Father, to realize 
each day that whatever strength 
and talents I have are gifts from 
thee. Teach me to use them, not 
only that they may gi'ow, but 
that always by them I may honor 
thee. Keep me from losing my 
head because some success has 
crowned my labors. Let me have 
no undue sense of my laiportance. 
Keep me humble, companionable 
and straight. JMay I ever be 
friendly with the boys who have 
tried and failed. ^lake me ever 
ready to help the weak and the 
unfortunate. Save me from being 
a snob or a Pharisee. Help me 
ever to do my best. If the future 



62 Young Men and Prayer 

days have defeat for me, help me 
to lose bravely, loyally and as 
cheerfully as in the times of vic- 
tory. 

Whatever comes of praise or 
blame, defeat or distinction, of 
sacrifice or of service, help me to 
play the man and follow even 
in the footsteps of the Man of 
Nazareth. In his name. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 63 

WHEN HE IS DIS- 
COURAGED 

Thou God of justice and mercy, 
I come to thee in the hour of need 
and discouragement. My heart 
cries out for a Friend and a 
Helper. Though I have tried 
and failed, worked and not won, 
struggled, and not gotten the vic- 
tory, thou wilt not fail me in my 
time of trouble. 

Forgive me because I have not 
attained, but most of all because 
I am discouraged. O God, I am 
not praying for an easier life or 
lighter task. Give me strength to 
do the work that thou hast given 
me to do. Help me to feel that 
it is thy work for me. Add to my 
strength faith in thee and in the 
rightness of my task. Give me 



64 Young Men and Prayer 

more com^age, that in the future 
I may play the man and neither 
the coward nor the fool. 

Thou dost always give and for- 
give. Give me a second chance to 
make good. May I take my part 
in suffering hardness as a good 
soldier of Jesus Christ. 

In the name of my gi-eat 
Captain, whom I would follow. 
Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 65 



WHEX HE IS TEMPTED 

O God, my Helper and 
Strength, I come to thee in time 
of need. My heart cries out for 
help to resist the temptation that 
is so near and the danger that is so 
real. Strengthen my power to re- 
sist evil. Reenforce my faith in 
thee and in the right. May my 
courage not fail me nor my heart 
faint. 

O Father, thou dost care for 
me. Thou wilt give me sympathy 
as well as strength, hope as well as 
help, and confidence as well as 
courage. 

May I win the victory over my 
baser, meaner self, over the sug- 
gestions from without and the 
desires from within that lead to 



66 Young Men and Prayer 

defeat and disgrace. May I be 
stronger for the victory over sin 
and selfishness and farther along 
on the road to manhood. 

In His name, who fought the 
good fight and encom'ages every 
boy in the fight for character. 
Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 67 

m SICKNESS 

O God, oui' Refuge and 
Strength, a very present Help in 
time of trouble! In times of trial 
and suffering we turn to thee with 
an especial longing. In times of 
weakness we come to thee for 
strength and in our suffering come 
to thee for comfort and consola- 
tion. If it be possible, give me 
back my strength and restore me 
to my usual health so that I may 
do my work and thy work. 

Make me patient to bear my 
suffering and brave to endure 
hardness, as a good soldier of 
Christ Jesus. Help me to realize 
my dependence on thee. May the 
sickness make me more gentle and 
less selfish. Out of this may there 



68 Young Men and Prayer 

come a larger sjonpathy for 
others, because I can understand 
their needs and weakness better. 
Whatever the outcome, may I give 
my hfe into thy keeping to use as 
shall best honor thee and benefit 
my fellows. 

In the name of him who tri- 
umphed at Gethsemane and Cal- 
vary. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 69 

m TIME OF SORROW 

O thou Great Helper in any 
time of need and Friend in all our 
troubles, help me to bear my sor- 
row. Help me not to lose heart 
or hope — but to get strength from 
thee to bear whatever comes. 
Deliver me from fear and help me 
to face the pain and grief like a 
man whose trust is in thee. 

O God, thou alone canst bind 
up the broken-hearted and com- 
fort them that mourn — give me 
comfort and consolation, but 
above all make me more faithful 
in my trust of thee whatever 
comes; make me ready to comfort 
others in sorrow and distress, more 
sympathetic with those who caiTy 
heavy burdens — and more and 



70 Young Men and Prayer 

more a brother to the weak and 
suffering. I learn in the school of 
sorrow and suffering the deeper 
meanings of life and how to help 
others; then mv sorrow shall not 
be in vain. 

In the nanie of the Great Bur- 
den Bearer. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 71 



WHEN THE WORK IS 
HARD 

O Father, the burdens are 
heavy. The way is hard, and I 
grow weary under the load. 
Give me, I pray, strength just 
for today, for today's duties, 
today's task, today's work and 
today's worries. Help me as 
the work goes hard not to 
lose patience, nor rny temper, 
nor heart. I need Thee and 
faith and trust in Thee when the 
times are hard. Help me con- 
stantly to live in the attitude and 
atmosphere of prayer as I go 
about my daily work. May the 
spirit of faith and confidence 
steady my nerves. Strengthen my 
hand and fortify my heart, so that 



72 Young Men and Prayer 



when the day is done it shall have 
been another day of work for 
Thee and of service for hiinianity. 
Reenforce my will. Strengthen 
me against temptation. Help me 
to do my work and thine T^dthout 
complaint, without whining and 
without faltering. 

In the name of the great 
Worker of and for mankind. 
Amen. 



Prayers oj the Young Man 73 



IX TIME OF WAR 

O God, thou art King of kings, 
and Lord of lords! Over all and 
above all, thou art God. To thee 
I owe and own my first and my 
fullest allegiance. 

In these days of conflict and 
war, may I be faithful to thee. 
Teaeh me thy way, and lead me 
in a plain path. Show me my 
duty to thee, to my coimtry, my 
home and myself. 

Give me the faith and the cour- 
age to do that duty at any cost or 
at any sacrifice. If I am needed 
at the front, may I bear myself 
like a man and never disgrace my 
country by cowardice, or disgrace 
thy cause by an unclean or sinful 
life. If my duty lies here at home, 



74 Young Men and Prayer 

help me to do it uncomplainingly 
and efficiently. 

Most of all, I desire to be of 
service to thee, my country and 
humanity. Not for glory in fame 
or reward do I pray, but simply 
that unafraid and loyal I may do 
my whole duty — in the spirit of 
Him who came not to be minis- 
tered unto, but to minister, and to 
give his life a ransom for many. 
Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 75 



WHEN HE HAS BEEN 
WRONGED 

O Father, my heart aches and 
my feehngs are badly hmi:. My 
whole being reels as though struck 
a savage blow. It is hard to suffer 
and be still. I come to Thee for 
Thou dost understand both me 
and my trouble. Help me to 
remember how Jesus suffered 
shame, humiliation, loneliness, be- 
trayal, and death. Make me real- 
ize that he bore it all without 
faltering or flinching, and that 
above all he cried, "Father, forgive 
them; they know not what they 
do." Help me to forgive the in- 
jury. Take away resentment, 
vengeance, malice and harshness 



76 Young Men and Prayer 

from my heart. For courage to 
bear the pain and strength to for- 
give the >vi'ong — again I pray. 
For Jesus' sake. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 77 



FOR FORGIVEXESS 

O God, I have done wrong. I 
have not played the man, but have 
fallen before temptation. I am 
ashamed and humiliated that I 
should shame thee and disgi^ace 
myself. God be merciful to me a 
sinner. Forgive me for my sin 
and defeat. Help me to make all 
the amends and reparation in my 
power to the people who have been 
injured and hurt. Help me to be 
so sorry for this wi'ong-doing that 
I shall never do it again. Create 
in me a clean heart, O God, and 
renew a right spirit within me. In 
the name and for the sake of Jesus, 
my Savior. Amen. 



78 Young Men and Prayer 

FOR THE OTHER 
FELLOW 

O Father, my heart goes out to 
Thee for my comrade and friend. 
I want him to know Thee better 
and love Thee more. I want him 
to be an out-and-out Christian. 
Show me how to help him. May 
my influence be always toward 
that end. Give me the right words 
to say at the right time. Above 
all may I not play the Pharisee 
by my holier-than-thou actions or 
words. May I be a good friend 
and a loyal Christian without 
making my religion a bore. Help 
me to be a manly Christian, a good 
comrade and a real help whenever 
we are together. 

In the name of my Great 
Friend. Amen. 



Prayers of the Young Man 79 

IN TIME OF DOUBT 

Dear Father, there are so many 
things that I cannot understand, 
so many questions that come into 
mind that I cannot answer. Help 
me to find my way in the darkness. 
Give me the confidence in Thee 
that a son should have in his 
father. Where I cannot see give 
me faith and trust to go with 
Thee. When doubts and difficul- 
ties trouble me — may I never 
prove false to the truth, to the 
pure life, to the right, to my con- 
science and to Thee. So may my 
strength grow under the stress 
and struggle, so may I steadf astly 
and surely hold on to the things 
which cannot fail and to Thee in 
the name of Him who endured all 
things for my sake. Amen. 



80 Young Men and Prayer 



m TIME OF DECISION 

O God, and Dearest Friend, I 
am come to the parting of the 
ways, to the crossroads of life. I 
need wisdom to decide which way 
to go. Help me to be clear of 
vision, looking far into the years; 
to lift above my ambition a real 
desire to do the right thing. May 
I be willing to take the hard road, 
if it is the way of Hfe. Give me 
strength to decide and choose with 
deep thought of the result of my 
choice upon others as well as upon 
my own career. 

Take away fear of the conse- 
quences and any desire to dodge 
the issue and help me to face and 
decide it hke a man. May my 
chief ambition be to stand on Thy 



Prayers of the Young Man 81 

side and the side of right at all 
costs and at every hazard. 

In the name of that Big 
Brother who never failed or fal- 
tered in His choice, though it led 
to the cross. Amen. 



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